This reporter's a sucker for news of any cool iPhone apps. If there are enough of them, why, Mrs. Reporter just may agree that it's the perfect Christmas present this year. And look -- here's another one no modern man should be without.

 

Joy Entertainment, in partnership with iPhone (News - Alert) application developer Big Nerd Ranch, has reportedly introduced an iPhone application that lets users generate musical riffs with their own instruments via the iPhone/iPod Touch. 

 

Riff Raters was created to "allow musicians and music enthusiasts alike to share their original riffs with the world," according to Big Nerd officials. Well, that and to keep people from getting work done, of course.

"Riff Raters enables musicians to spread the news about their music and expand their fan base," said Joy Glenwright, CEO of Joy Entertainment, in a statement. He said that in using the app, which costs $1.99, musicians can "share and get comments about their riffs with the entire app community."

Riffs are "short repeated melodic phrases," usually lasting no more than twenty seconds. Those of you addicted to Twitter can think of them as musical tweets. Use the app to record your riffs on your iPhone/iTouch "with any instrument," company officials said. 

 

Then do all the cool editing you want with reverb and trimming tools, post it to Riff Raters and watch it climb to the Top 25 charts. Fans even have the opportunity to be notified when their favorite riffers upload new riffs.

Then, in a few months, hear your very own riff stolen on the radio. Just kidding! We're sure that would never happen!

Gautam Godse, software director of Big Nerd, said that he's in a crowded field, noting that the iPhone is fast approaching 100,000 applications, "with music applications numbering in the thousands."

 

Oh, and friends, please: Do not, I repeat, do not upload "Smoke On The Water." The world's coolest riff, yes, but it's been done. Feel free to avoid "Jumping Jack Flash," too.

In September, TMCnet reported that aging geeks, nostalgic for those halcyon dateless days of their youth, were in luck: Aarhuis, Denmark-based Kiloo and Manomio haven released the Commodore 64 Emulator for the iPhone and iPod touch on Apple's (News - Alert) App Store.